Aware voices concerns about Tan Kin Lian's Facebook posts on 'pretty girls', questions how he's deemed eligible for presidency

SINGAPORE — The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) has voiced concerns over Mr Tan Kin Lian's participation in the coming Presidential Election, citing his "history of objectifying women" based on his Facebook posts on "pretty girls" he had met.

This comes after the 75-year-old told the media on Monday (Aug 21) morning that only "a very small minority" of people find his social media posts — which describe his encounters with "pretty girls" in Singapore — "uncomfortable". 

In a statement published on its Facebook page on Monday afternoon, Aware denounced the presidential hopeful for his behaviour. Although Mr Tan was not named, the post was embedded with an article about the former chief of NTUC Income published by CNA earlier that day. 

"Consistently posting about 'pretty girls', recording videos of women in public without their consent, or commenting about their appearance isn’t merely a matter of personal preference or light 'amusement'," the statement read.

"It's an act of objectifying women, reducing them solely to their appearances for their personal entertainment. Such behaviour from anyone in or aspiring to a position of influence suggests that it's acceptable to trivialise women and overlook their myriad abilities and contributions."

Aware also said that there is a "systemic worry" in the granting of a Certificate of Eligibility to such a person — as it "signifies that these views and behaviours are not just acceptable, but perhaps even agreeable enough for a potential presidency". 

"Do we want a society where behaviours that objectify half its population get a tacit nod? Or do we push for a nation that evaluates every individual beyond the surface level, acknowledging their full worth and potential?" Aware said.

"Our President should embody the values, ethics, and principles that reflect the nation we want to be." 

The statement ended with a call for the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) to "thoroughly consider the broader implications of such endorsements in the future".

It added that the assessment process should not only take into account financial and management qualifications, but also "wider societal impacts to ensure our leadership truly upholds the values of respect, equality, and dignity for all Singaporeans". 

The PEC said on Monday evening it was not aware of Mr Tan’s social media posts before issuing him his certificate of eligibility. And having made its decision, it is not legally allowed to revoke it.

The committee also said that the issuing of the certificate was not an endorsement of Mr Tan’s social media posts.

TODAY has reached out to Mr Tan for comment.

"A VERY SMALL MINORITY" FIND THEM UNCOMFORTABLE

A video posted on social media platform TikTok on Sunday featured screenshots of several Facebook posts that Mr Tan had made about women he met around the country.

The 9-second clip had over 6,600 likes and shares as of 3pm on Monday.

One user expressed surprise that the ex-chief of NTUC Income would make such posts, while several other commenters had their doubts that the posts were even real. 

Speaking to the media before a scheduled walkabout at West Coast Food Centre in Clementi on Monday morning, Mr Tan said that only "a very small minority" of people find his social media posts about women "uncomfortable", adding that "most people find them enjoyable". 

When asked to address online users’ concerns about the appropriateness of such posts, Mr Tan said that most people found the content to be "quite light". 

“There will be a few people who feel uncomfortable. But it's a very small minority. The majority actually find that quite fun.

“Some of the people (post) nasty comments. ‘How can this (kind of) thing (be posted) on your Facebook?’ And I say 'please leave it'. If you don't like what I post, please stay out. Don't make very rude remarks."

Continuing on the topic of his social media posts, Mr Tan said that while many of them are "simple" by nature — like posting about buying fish ball noodle soup on his visit to a food centre — they can "reach 100,000… 200,000 people". 

“I ignore malicious people who are out to create trouble for me, so long as the majority of people find that those posts are quite harmless,” he said. 

NDR2023 MEASURES 'GOOD', BUT SHOULD 'BENEFIT EVERYBODY'

Mr Tan on Monday also shared his views on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally, where he announced a suite of measures that the Government will introduce to support Singaporeans.

These include the new Standard, Plus and Prime models for new Build-to-Order projects which will replace the classification of mature and non-mature estates.

The presidential hopeful said that the announcements pertaining to housing were "good measures", and that they would make Housing and Development Board flats more affordable for Singaporeans. 

However, Mr Tan said that the Majulah package, which will provide Singaporeans aged 50 and above this year with Central Provident Fund top-ups, could be "more comprehensive". 

“The Majulah package is good for people in that age group. But (for) the people outside that age group, they’re not getting any help, and they are now suffering the impact of the current economic situation,” Mr Tan said.

"I know the Prime Minister thinks that he has taken care of the Pioneer Generation before, (and) the Merdeka generation. Now it is the Majulah generation — but I certainly prefer, because of these current economic times, that we should actually help everybody, not just one segment. 

"Of course, I think the Prime Minister has his reasons, but my view is we should provide help to everybody."

Mr Tan also said that he hopes the Government would reconsider deferring next year's 1 percentage point increase in the country's Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“Every time you increase the GST (by) 1 per cent, people will see the prices go up in the hawker centre or food court (by) 5 per cent, 10 per cent,” he said, adding that he believes most Singaporeans want the planned increase to be “cancelled”. 

RESERVES COULD BE USED TO 'BRING DOWN COST OF LIVING'

Mr Tan also raised the possibility of the reserves being used to lower the cost of living and housing, and to create “better jobs” for Singaporeans. 

When TODAY asked if that meant he disagreed with the Government’s position of only drawing from the reserves in times of emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Tan said that his approach to its usage is different, but that he would broach the topic with the Government in the future. 

Mr Tan added that he was undecided if he would reveal to the public how much money there is in the national reserves if elected, but that he would have "an open mind" to doing so, and that the figure ultimately "doesn't matter to the ordinary people". 

“Certainly, I will be quite transparent in explaining to the people what are the most important things to focus on. 

“It is not the amount of reserves (Singapore has) but how the reserves are being used,” he said.